|
|
Gamma Ray Bursts
Cosmic gamma ray bursts
(GRBs) were discovered by accident in the late 1960's by satellites designed to
detect gamma rays produced
by atomic bomb tests on Earth. The GRBs appear first as a brilliant flash of
gamma rays, that rises and falls in a matter of minutes. These bursts are often
followed by afterglows at X-ray, optical and radio wavelengths.
Compton Gamma
Ray Observatory
Credit: NASA
|
A major leap forward in understanding the source of cosmic GRBs was made when
the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) was launched aboard the Compton
Gamma Ray Observatory in 1991.
|
